OUTLOOK: With several players on varsity for third or fourth season, Avondale should have a seasoned ball club that will challenge Bloomfield Hills and Troy Athensfor a league championship this season. Avondale will fall back into Division 2 his season for the postseason.

Auburn Hills Oakland Christian

HEAD COACH: Brad Pyke, seventh season.

2015 RECORD: 14-16, 5-3 MIAC Red Division.

STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Genesee (4-3); lost in D-4 district semifinals to Clarkston Everest Collegiate (5-1).

OUTLOOK: With an older team that features four seniors and five juniors, the Lancers hope to climb the MIAC standings this season. Oakland Christian will also play a tough non-conference schedule with the hopes of paying dividend in the postseason.

Clarkston

HEAD COACH: Phil Price, 18th season

2015 RECORD:

STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Waterford Mott (5-2); lost in D-1 district finals to Rochester Adams (1-0).

OUTLOOK: Top-five in the state in enrollment, Clarkston always fields a competitive team. Two years ago the Wolves made a run to the D-1 Final Four. A bulk of that roster in now gone. Clarkston will be competitive, but how competitive remains to be seen.

OUTLOOK: Since splitting off its own team from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes last season, the Mountaineers quickly had some late-season success, winning a D-4 district crown before reaching the Sweet 16.

OUTLOOK: Holly has won two league titles in the past five years and has steadily become one of the best teams in the FML. Expect the Bronchos to again battle for a top-four finish and perhaps even a league or district.

OUTLOOK: Since taking over the program in 1999, Andy Schramek has built the Dragons into one of the oat consistent teams in talent-laden Oakland County by finishing above .500 17 straight years with a multitude of championships.

Lake Orion Baptist

HEAD COACH: Cole Welby, fifth season.

2015 RECORD: 16-5.

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Michigan Association of Christian Schools state semifinals to Davison Faith Baptist.

OUTLOOK: As far as programs with enrollments far under 100 go, the Lions have done fairly well since the program began in 2003. There are 10 of 14 players from last season, plus some quality newcomers that will help this team contend in the FBAC and possibly a long postseason run in the small-school MACS.

OUTLOOK: The bad news is that Oxford graduated quite a bit from last season. The good news is that this program has widely underachieved the past several years and there are many fresh faces in the lineup that have already shown vast improvement under second-year coach David Herrick. The Wildcats could be one of the most improved squads in Oakland County.

Pontiac Academy For Excellence

HEAD COACH: Mark Croxton, first season.

2015 RECORD:

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-3 pre-district to Memphis (7-0)

KEY RETURNEES:

KEY NEWCOMERS:

KEY LOSSES:

OUTLOOK:

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

HEAD COACH: Darren Audia

2015 RECORD: 25-8.

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-2 district semifinals to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood (7-3).

OUTLOOK: The Fighting Irish face a major rebuilding year after graduating eight players to college rosters the last two years. There is some quality holdover talent and a solid core of newcomers, but expectations will not be as high as the last couple of years.

Rochester

HEAD COACH: Eric Magiera, seventh season

2015 RECORD: 20-12, 8-7 OAA Red Division (fourth)

STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Rochester Stoney Creek (3-2); lost in D-1 district finals to Utica Eisenhower (2-1).

OUTLOOK: Although the Falcons bolster only two seniors and graduated their two best players, Rochester may have one of its best rosters since competing as a state powerhouse in the 1990s. The Falcons’ junior class is deep and this year’s roster features 12 pitchers.

OUTLOOK: The Highlanders won both the OAA-Red Division and D-1 district titles last season, and with eight returning starters on a 21-player roster and ample depth all over the diamond, will boast a team that will be capable of contending for championships once again.

OUTLOOK: With just one senior and a team full of underclassmen, the Eagles may take their lumps again this season. The good news for RHC is there is a promising freshman class that could make this program competitive in the her future.

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest

HEAD COACH: Steve Flores, third season.

2015 RECORD:

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-3 pre-district to Memphis (3-1).

KEY RETURNEES:

KEY NEWCOMERS:

KEY LOSSES:

OUTLOOK:

Troy

HEAD COACH: Tim Mullen, fourth season.

2015 RECORD: 16-16, 5-7 OAA Blue Division (tied-third)

STATE TOURNAMENT: Def. Berkley (3-2); lost in D-1 district finals to Troy Athens (2-0).

OUTLOOK: Troy has a nice mixture of experience (six returning starters) and new talent and hope this will be the recipe for a winning campaign. The Colts are projected to be middle-of-the-pack in their division but hope to surprise.

OUTLOOK: After underachieving in the regular season that featured many close losses, the Red Hawks made a run to their first regional championship and state quarterfinals berth. Athens lost a lot of firepower both from the lineup and pitching staff and will have to challenge with nine returnees and eight newcomers. On the roster there are nine sophomores.

Troy Bethany Christian

HEAD COACH: Evan Dawle, fourth season.

2015 RECORD:

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state semifinals to Lake Orion Baptist.

KEY RETURNEES: Jacob King, sr. P-INF (all-league);

KEY NEWCOMERS:

KEY LOSSES:

OUTLOOK:\

Waterford Kettering

HEAD COACH: Michael Malley

2015 RECORD:

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in D-1 district semifinals to West Bloomfield (6-5).